Frequently Asked Questions



  • Blood is needed every two seconds.
  • About one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood.
  • Blood is always needed for treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and surgery patients.
  • Blood cannot be manufactured.
  • Only 37 percent of population is eligible to give blood, and less than 10 percent of those who can donate actually do donate annually.

Donating blood is risk-free. Since each donor uses brand-new, sterile disposable equipment, giving blood carries no risk of contracting a bloodborne infection.

A pint (about half a litre) can be donated by most healthy persons without posing any health hazards. Your body replenishes the fluids lost as soon as a few days have passed since a blood donation. Your body then repairs the lost red blood cells after two weeks.

The blood service must ensure that giving blood won't hurt you whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time donor. This includes testing your blood to ensure that it won't harm the recipient.

You will be questioned about your medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, as well as your present health and lifestyle, prior to giving blood. Only to protect your health and the health of the person taking your blood, these questions will be asked. If you are unable to donate blood at this time, you will be informed whether you might be able to in the future. Your personal information will be kept private and won't be applied to any other activity.

Blood donation is fairly easy to do. You'll be given the best possible comfort, typically in a customised chair or on a bed. Before a skilled healthcare professional inserts a sterile needle that is attached to a blood collection bag into your vein, the area inside one of your elbows will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Blood donation normally takes 10 minutes or less.

You can resume your regular activities after taking a short break of 10 or 15 minutes and rehydrating yourself, but you should avoid vigorous exercise for the remaining portion of the day. Over the following 24 hours, you should take in a lot of fluids

Yes, since this helps to ensure the safest possible blood supply. All donors must be asked the screening questions at each donation. Both AABB and FDA regulations specifically require that all blood donors complete the donor history questionnaire on the day of donation and prior to donating.

To donate blood you will need to:
  • be generally fit and well
  • be aged between 17 and 65
  • weigh between 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg)
  • have suitable veins
  • meet all donor eligibility criteria

You can't donate blood if you:
  • have had most types of cancer
  • have some heart conditions
  • have recently received blood, platelets, plasma or any other blood products
  • have tested positive for HIV
  • have had an organ transplant
  • are a hepatitis B carrier
  • are a hepatitis C carrier
  • have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents. You may be able to give if a doctor prescribed the drugs

A typical adult's blood volume is about five litres. Since dosage requirements and appropriate anticoagulant additive mix proportions must be satisfied, a minimum of 460 millilitres must be collected when giving whole blood (the conventional donation technique).

This amount makes up about 10% of the donor's total blood supply.

No, blood centers require that you be in good health (symptom-free) and feeling well.

Yes, if your blood pressure falls within the limits set by FDA regulations.

If your blood glucose level is within your target range (set by your medical provider) and you are in good health, you should be fine to give blood. You should not donate if you are having issues with your sugars and they are not in range, but it’s also a good idea to let your doctor know you wish to donate blood to get his or her recommendation.

Can I donate if I recently had a tattoo or ear or body piercing?

Getting a tattoo or piercing recently from a licensed establishment does not make you ineligible to donate blood.

Yes. But there are some rules you’ll need to follow before you donate your blood after getting the jab. According to the eligibility guidelines set by the FDA, if you qualify to donate blood, in most cases, you can do it any time after you’ve had your COVID-19 vaccine.

But to be eligible, you’ll need to know and be able to give the name of your COVID-19 vaccine’s manufacturer. Approved manufacturers include Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer. You can donate as long as you don't have symptoms of COVID-19 and feel well when you’re about to donate.

No. Your body has about 10 pints of blood. When you donate blood, you only give about 1 pint. If you’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine, your antibody levels won’t go down after you give blood. Your immune system will quickly replace the antibodies.

After you give blood:
Take the following precautions:
  • Drink an extra four glasses (eight ounces each) of non-alcoholic liquids.
  • Keep your bandage on and dry for the next five hours, and do not do heavy exercising or lifting.
  • If the needle site starts to bleed, raise your arm straight up and press on the site until the bleeding stops.
  • Because you could experience dizziness or loss of strength, use caution if you plan to do anything that could put you or others at risk of harm. For any hazardous occupation or hobby, follow applicable safety recommendations regarding your return to these activities following a blood donation.
  • Eat healthy meals and consider adding iron-rich foods to your regular diet, or discuss taking an iron supplement with your health care provider, to replace the iron lost with blood donation.
  • If you get a bruise: Apply ice to the area intermittently for 10-15 minutes during the first 24 hours. Thereafter, apply warm, moist heat to the area intermittently for 10-15 minutes. A rainbow of colors may occur for about 10 days.
  • If you get dizzy or lightheaded: Stop what you are doing, lie down, and raise your feet until the feeling passes and you feel well enough to safely resume activities.
  • And remember to enjoy the feeling of knowing you have helped save lives!

Only for a moment. Pinch the fleshy, soft underside of your arm. That pinch is similar to what you will feel when the needle is inserted.

Every 12 weeks for men and every 16 weeks for women, blood donation is permitted. Men often have higher iron levels than women, which explains why.